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Kathy, (aka "Bessie"), and I began our beekeeping experience in the fall of 2008, when we began a year-long course in beekeeping through the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. We got our first package of bees in April of 2009. At the suggestion of our daughter, Jessica, we are logging our beekeeping experience. Hope you find it interesting. It has been interesting, rewarding and entertaining for us as well.

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Kathy and I recently returned from a wonderful trip to Costa Rica. It was basically an eco-tour, arranged by a former classmate of mine who has retired from Iowa State University and has taken groups to Central America for more than a decade. We saw beautiful scenery, many wonderful birds, reptiles and mammals, ate terrific food and made new friends. It was a great time, and with the slow emergence of spring I'm wishing I were right back there!
One side trip we took was to a huge pineapple plantation. It was very interesting learning how they are planted, harvested and selected for either fresh pineapple, juice, or what have you. As we were enjoying our treats at the end of the tour, I noticed some small insects very busy, coming and going, at the base of a column that supported the open serving area. I looked closer, and noticed many small insects flying in and out of a small tube going into a crack.

My guess was they were some type of bee. Jim, my friend and our guide, wh…

Temperature was 36 degrees or so this afternoon, so I thought I'd take a quick check. Bees appeared fine, pretty tight cluster at the top. Still about 1 and a half patties left, so I didn't add anything and just closed them up again. Later in the week, after another winter storm sludges through, it should get into the 40's. I think I'll put the top feeder on and give some sugar water then. I'm anxious for a 50 degree day to see if any brood are present and get an assessment of how large the colony is, since I'm wanting to do a split early as possible. That may have to wait, though, with long term forecasts calling for colder than average temps the next several weeks.
Hopefully, we'll get some clear nights even though cold so we can get a good look at comet PanSTARRS, coming into view in the northern hemisphere mid-March.